Emergency Operations PlanFor Western Mass. COADs

Purpose, Scope, Situation Overview and Assumptions Pages 6 – 7 Community organizations will work to

minimize impact of emergencies by collaborating and coordinating services

Covers four counties of western MA COAD member agencies may respond,

but COADs themselves are not response organizations, only coordinating

COAD agencies will not self-deploy

Concept of Operations Pages 7 – 9 Foundation is situational awareness Levels of activation

1 – Steady State/Monitoring 2 – Partial Activation 3 – Full Activation 4 – Long-Term Recovery

Organization and Assignment of Responsibilities Page 9 COAD chair notified of member actions COAD chair provides updates to MA VOAD

and Mass 2-1-1 COAD agencies organize into

subcommittees based on resources they provide

Conference calls Closeout reports

Direction, Control, and Coordination Pages 9 – 10 Local IC/EMD in charge Coordinate with ESF-7 desk at MEMA, if

staffed

Information Collection, Analysis, and Dissemination Page 10 COAD chair

gathers information

COAD chair receives resource

requests

COAD chair contacts

subcommittee chairsAND

Other COADs

Subcommittee chairs contact

members

Subcommittee chairs

relay information to

COAD chair

MEMA &Local EMD

Communications Pages 10 – 12 0700 and 1900 briefings with COAD officers,

subcommittee chairs, WebEOC monitor, PIO, MA VOAD

0800 and 2000 briefings with subcommittee chairs

Agenda for all briefings: Update on situation Update on activities Update on needs of agencies or community Assignment of tasks

Administration, Finance, and Logistics Page 12 Keep records for FEMA reimbursement

Plan Development and Maintenance Page 12

Plan SectionReview/Revision

FrequencyExercise

Frequency

Basic Plan, Annexes, and Job Action Sheets

Every two years Every year

Contact Lists Every year  

Notification Drills   Twice/year

Authorities and References Page 13 Each agency must follow its own limits

and regulations

Emergency Support Categories Annexes Pages 14 – 28 Animal care Care services Debris removal Financial assistance Food Goods Health care, spiritual,

emotional, and mental health

Housing Professional

services Repair/rebuilding Services for special

populations Transportation Volunteers

Continuity of Operations Plan Pages 29-30 Staffing and succession of officers and

subcommittee chairs

Appendices A: List of Member Agencies (pp. 32 – 34) B: Resource Directory/Subcommittees (pp. 35

– 36) C: Free Conference Call Instructions (pp. 37-

38) D: Acronyms (p. 39) E: Job Action Sheets (pp. 40 – 46) F: EMD Contact Info (p. 47) G: Contact Info for Key COAD Members (pp.

48 – 50)

Please move to the appropriate county table if you’re not already there!

In Like a LionTabletop Exercise

Exercise Overview Exercise scope: 1.5 hours of play,

limited to introducing emergency management personnel and COAD members to each other and testing the newly developed COAD Emergency Response Plan

Mission area(s): Response and Recovery

Objectives and Core Capabilities1. Introduce EMDs and COAD members to

each other (Community Resilience).2. Allow both groups to become familiar

with the COAD EOP (Public and Private Services and Resources).

3. Identify gaps in the EOP and in training (Public and Private Services and Resources.

Participant Roles and Responsibilities Players: Respond to situation presented

based on current plans, policies, and procedures.

Facilitators/Scribes: Moderate discussions and make note of significant observations.

Exercise Structure Two modules (storm warning and

recovery)1. Scenario2. Small group discussion with prompting

questions3. Report out

Hotwash

Exercise Guidelines This is an open, low-stress, no-fault environment.

Varying viewpoints, even disagreements, are expected. Base your responses on the current plans and

capabilities of your organization. Decisions are not precedent setting; consider different

approaches and suggest improvements. Issue identification is not as valuable as suggestions

and recommended actions that could improve response and recovery efforts; problem-solving efforts should be the focus.

Testing the EOP—please write suggestions for improvements directly on the Plan.

Assumptions and Artificialities The exercise is conducted in a no-fault

learning environment wherein capabilities, plans, systems, and processes will be evaluated.

The exercise scenario is plausible, and events occur as they are presented.

All players receive information at the same time.

Exercise ScheduleModule 1: Storm Warning 2:00 – 2:30

Report out 2:30 – 2:45

Module 2: Recovery 2:45 – 3:15

Report out 3:15 – 3:30

Hotwash 3:30 – 3:50

Closing Comments 3:50 – 4:00

Module 1: Storm Warning

Module 1March 25, 10:00 A.M.The National Weather Service is predicting a major snowstorm will come across New England bringing up to three feet of heavy, wet snow and high winds. Snowfall will begin around midnight tonight and continue for at least 24 hours. The heavy snow will stick to tree limbs likely bringing them down on power lines and roads. The entire state is expected to be affected.

Module 1March 25, 10:00 A.M.The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Framingham is currently at a Level 1 (Steady State/Monitoring) activation, with plans to transition to a Level 2 (Partial Activation) this evening. MA VOAD (Massachusetts Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters) members are scheduling a conference call to discuss individual member organizations’ actions and checking with MEMA to see if they will be needed once transitioned to partial activation.

Module 1: Key Issues The storm will begin in approximately 14

hours and last for at least 24 hours. The snow will be heavy causing trees to

fall on power lines and roads. The entire state is expected to be

affected.

Module 1: Discussion Talk amongst your small groups Note significant items Write recommendations on the Plan Report out at 2:30

Module 2: Recovery

Module 2April 1, 10:00 A.M.It’s been almost a week since the storm hit and 5% of Hampshire County residents are still without power. Northampton has two shelters open and several communities have emergency rest centers open during the day.

Module 2April 1,10:00 A.M.A large apartment complex in Northampton was rendered uninhabitable when the weight of the snow on the roof caused it to collapse. There are now 150 residents who need a long-term housing solution.

Module 2April 1,10:00 A.M.Channels 22 and 40 have reported heavily on this story causing a flood of calls offering donated clothing and baby goods. Donated goods have started piling up in the parking lot of the Salvation Army.

Module 2April 1,10:00 A.M.Several hundred homes in Hampshire County have lawns littered with tree limbs. Some of these falling limbs damaged roofs, which now require tarps.

Module 2: Key Issues 150 Northampton

residents need long-term housing.

Donated goods are piling up.

Homes have tree debris and are in need of tarps on their roofs.

Module 2: Discussion Talk amongst your small groups Note significant items Write recommendations on the Plan Report out at 3:15

Hot Wash Strengths

Areas for Improvement

Closing Comments Slides and EOP will be on WRHSAC’s

website; we’ll email link and attendee contact info

Thank you to speakers, facilitators/scribes, WRHSAC

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